Liquid-measuring apparatus



Oct. 15, 1929. O ROBERTS 1,731,795

LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 51, 1926 2 sneet-shev 1 ha ATTORNEY.

Oct. 15, 1929. o. F. ROBERTS 1,

LIQUID MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 51, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR.

Wan/1mm #54 ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 15, 1929 PATENT OFFICE OREN F. ROBERTS, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI LIQUID-MEASFFRING APPARATUS Application filed December 31, 1926. Serial No. 158,242.

My invention relates to improvements in liquid measuring apparatus. It is particularly well adapted for use in measuring liquid drink ingredients, such as syrups used in compounding drinks delivered by a dispensing or vending apparatus. 1 i 1 One of the objects of my invention is to provide a novel apparatus of the kind described, which is simple, cheap, durable, not liable to get out of order, which may be readily adapted to dispensing machines now in use or to be manufactured, which will automatically and accurately measure and deliver the liquid to be dispensed, and which is reliable and et- .iicient in operation.

My invention provides further in the apparatus novel and efficient means for preventing the forming of air pockets in the delivery conductor, which, when occurring, in-

terferes with the accurate measurement and proper flow of the liquid.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, which il- 2 lustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, p

Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved measuring apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same, viewed from another side.

Fig. 3 is a top view of the same. i

Fig. 4 is a vertical section, enlarged, on the line 44 of Fig. 3, partly broken away and parts omitted.

F ig. 5 is a cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a cross section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 4.

Similar reference characters designate similar parts in the different views.

The apparatus is provided with a liquid conductor having a liquid receivingmeasuring receptacle, which may comprise a hollow member 1, Fig. 4, having an upper chamber2,

a lower chamber 3, and an inclined passage 4 which at its upper end connects with the lower portion of the upper chamber 2, and the lower end of which is connected to the upper portion of the lower chamber 3. The latter has at its lower end an outlet which is preferably closing'the outlet of the conductor.

For normally lifting said valve to the closed position, shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, opposite sides of the sleeve 4 are respective ly provided with two eyelets 8, Figs. 1 and 2, in which are respectively mounted two paral- 5 lel bars 9, which are fastened together and form a lever, whichis pivoted on a horizontal transverse pin10 mounted in a strap. 11, which encircles and is fastened to the outer side of. the wall of the inclined passage 4. An adjustable longitudinally slidable weight 12 is mounted on the lever bars 9, and has fitted in it a set screw 13 adapted to bear against the lever to hold the weight in the position to which it may be adjusted, said weight and the eyelets 8 being at opposite sides respectively of the pivot pin 10, so that the weight will normally swing the lever so as to force the pad 7 to the closed position.

A cup shaped valve 14 is rotatably mountso ed on a vertical axis in the lower portion of the upper chamber 2, and is adapted to close the upper end of the passage 4, when the valve is turned to its closed position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

Said valve 14 is provided in its side wall with a vertical slot 15, adapted to register with the passage 4, when the valve 14 is in the tical tubular externally threaded boss 18 on the lower side of the bottom of the chamber 2. A stufling box 19 containing packing 20 encircles the stem 16 and is fitted on the boss 18, to prevent leakage of liquid. around the stem 16. The valve stem 16 has fastened on it by a set screw 21, an operating member comprising a crank arm 22 by which the valve to move the valve pad 7 to the open position,

through the intermediacy of the sleeve 4' and theU shaped member, above described. a

1 For oscillating the crank, arm 22 to open and close the valve14, any suitable means may be employed, such as a rock shaft 24, having secured to it'a: crank arm 25, which is connected. to a plate 26 having' mounted in it two screws 27, which extend through a slot 28 in a plate 29 pivoted-to the, crank arm 22,

the plate 26 "being pivoted to aj'pin 30 on the crank arm 25.

The crank arm 25 has in it a set screw 31, Fig. 2, and upon adjustment of this-screw and thescrews 27, and tightening the nuts 32 on said screws-27, the proper throw of the valve 14 may be obtained. V V

The upper end of the-chamber 2' is'internally threaded and has fitted in itan externally threaded tube 33, the upper end of which is fitted in the threaded'lower end of a tubular couplingmember 34, which is adapted to befitted to a suitable tank, not shown, which contains theliquid to be dispensed. Y

' A vertical rod is fitted at its. lower end int-he upper end ofthe stem 16, and is disposed centrally in and extends through the members 33 and 34. This rod serves to guide air upwardly andout'of thereceptacle 1.

The inclined passage 4, disposed as described, serves to carry from the lower chamber into the upper chamber2, and prevents the forming of air pockets whichwould interfere with the proper flow and measurement of the liquid dispensed. I w I I In the operation. of the apparatus, the liquid to be dispensed; passes through the coupling 34 andtube 33 intothe upper chamher 2, thence throughthe slot 15. in the valve 7 14 into the passage 4 and the lower chamber 3, where the liquid is held by the valve pad 7.

v When the'rock shaft 24 is rocked in the direction'indicatedby the arrow in Fig. 1,

the crank arm 25,:plates26 and 29 andcrank arm 22 w llturn the valve 14 to, the closed position, shown .in dotted lines in Fig. 6.

After'the valve 14 is 'closed,;th.e cam surface 23 will swing thelever bars 9 to the dotted -position, shown in Fig. 4, thus lowering the valve 7, and permittingthe liquid in the conductor below the valve 14 to pass from theconductor towhere it-is to be used.

lVhen't-he rock shaft 24 is rocked inthe opposite direction, the crank arm 22 will be returned and with it the valve 14 to the posi tion shown in solid lines in Fig. 6, but in the initial return movement of the crank 22, the cam surface 23 will pass from under the bars 9, thus permitting said lever bars to return to the position shown in solid lines in Fig. 4, and thereby forcing the valve pad 7 to the closed position, shown in solid lines in Fig. 4. When the valve slot 15 registers with the passage 4, the air in the passage and in the lower chamber 3 will pass upwardly through the slot 15, chamber 2, tube 33 and coupling 34 into the supply tank, liquid at the same time passing from said tank, so as to fill the chambers 2 and 3, passage 4, tube 33 and coupling 34. The parts will remain in this position until the rock shaft 24 is again rocked in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. I do not limit my invention to the structure shown and described, as many modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is 1. In a liquid measuring apparatus, a conductor having an outlet at its lower end, a

valve for closing said outlet, a rotary valve in said conductor above and spaced from the first named valve and having a crank arm provided with a cam surface, means for oscillating said crank arm for turning the rotary from and above said first named valve, said second valve having an operating member by which it is moved to and from the closed position, and a lever supporting said first valve and having means by which it is normally swung so as to close said first valve, said operating member having means engaging said lever arranged to swing said lever to open saidfirst valve after the second valve has closed.

3. In a liquid measuring apparatus, a conductor having an upper chamber and a lower chamber,-the upper chamber having an inlet, and the lower chamber having an outlet, said conductorhaving an inclined portion connecting the upper end of the lower chamber with the lower end of the upper chamber, a

valve for closing said outlet, at second valve 1 in said upper chamber arranged to be moved second member having an operating member by which it is moved to and from the closed 

